Policy for the Planet

The US drive for critical minerals is now fueled by national security concerns instead of climate mitigation. Policymakers speak of shoring up global supply chains for these minerals to protect US defenses, an objective that has stoked geopolitical tensions. The old goal of promoting batteries and renewable energy has fallen by the wayside. Host Monica de Bolle is joined by Cullen S. Hendrix (PIIE) to discuss why the Trump administration adjusted its stance on critical minerals, how the globe responded to the new and aggressive approach, and what it means for the green transition. 
This podcast is produced by the Peterson Institute for International Economics.
Music by Baegel/When I Hop/Courtesy of Epidemic Sound.
Download the episode transcript [PDF]
Learn more about Cullen S. Hendrix.
Learn more about Monica de Bolle.

Europe faces a new challenge: Mosquito-borne viruses, such as chikungunya, zika, and dengue, are now prevalent throughout the region, driven by warmer temperatures. Europe must combat these potentially debilitating diseases through education and prevention. Diana Rojas Alvarez (World Health Organization) joins host Monica de Bolle to explain why mosquitoes have moved so far north and the steps Europe has taken.
This podcast is produced by the Peterson Institute for International Economics.
Music by Baegel/When I Hop/Courtesy of Epidemic Sound.
Learn more about Diana Rojas Alvarez.
Learn more about Monica de Bolle.

Brazil has made many attempts to reform its fiscal problems, while never adequately addressing its increasingly burdensome government debt. At the same time, the country is home to the Amazon rainforest and is one of the world's biggest food producers, making its role vital in global climate efforts. Could Brazil be a global test case for green fiscal policies, delivering both fiscal and climate sustainability? Host Monica de Bolle is joined by Cornelius Fleischhaker (World Bank) to discuss potential paths for Brazil to tackle its fiscal problems while encouraging more climate-friendly policies.
This podcast is produced by the Peterson Institute for International Economics.
Music by Baegel/When I Hop/Courtesy of Epidemic Sound.
Download the episode transcript [PDF]
Read the full World Bank report: Double Dividend Policies to Achieve Fiscal and Environmental sustainability: A Public Finance Review for Brazil
Learn more about Cornelius Fleischhaker. 
Learn more about Monica de Bolle.

China's population, a little over four times as large as the United States, and its economic ambitions are driving a gargantuan need for electricity. But China has been able to meet that need by expanding its electrical grid well beyond what any other country has achieved. How? Host Monica de Bolle is joined by David Fishman (Lantau Group) to discuss how China has used renewables and low-carbon energy to bolster its grid and what the United States and other countries can learn from its expansion.
This podcast is produced by the Peterson Institute for International Economics.
Music by Baegel/When I Hop/Courtesy of Epidemic Sound.
Download the episode transcript [PDF]
Learn more about David Fishman.
Learn more about Monica de Bolle.

The Panama Canal suffered severe droughts in 2023 and 2024. Lower water levels disrupted vital US commercial trade routes for liquefied natural gas and other products. The canal's disabled state opens an opportunity for China, which is investing in infrastructure throughout Latin America, causing concern in Washington. With weather patterns changing, is the canal doomed? In this episode, host Monica de Bolle asks David A. Gantz (Baker Institute for Public Policy, Rice University) whether anything can be done to save the canal. There are alternatives being explored—some of them surprising, expensive, and potentially realistic. If the United States is to combat Chinese influence in Latin America, he argues, investing in the Panama Canal is a vital and urgent priority. 
This podcast is produced by the Peterson Institute for International Economics.
Music by Baegel/When I Hop/Courtesy of Epidemic Sound.
Download the episode transcript [PDF]
Learn more about David A. Gantz. 
Learn more about Monica de Bolle.